Why is it that language threads make us crazy?

Threads about proper grammar and language use are consistently among the most contentious on all forums I've passed through.

Why?

Is it simply because people tend to point out other people's mistakes, and the tone therefore becomes defensive?

or is it something deeper?

IMO, it's not the content of the thread, it's the 'holier than thou' attitude that bleeds through the postings that I think people tend to take offense to.

I'm by no measure a grammar nazi....heck, I'm lucky to have it all spelled right :)

We used to be much harder on people for that sort of thing here back in the day. I look back at that time and chuckle now.

will use of lower case really offend people? i'm intelligent enough, but lazy.

Dagney;329078 wrote:

IMO, it's not the content of the thread, it's the 'holier than thou' attitude that bleeds through the postings that I think people tend to take offense to.

I'm by no measure a grammar nazi....heck, I'm lucky to have it all spelled right :)

Bla,bla,bla...yadda-yadda-yadda... get a' life, just spell it correctly.

:p

Dagney;329078 wrote:

IMO, it's not the content of the thread, it's the 'holier than thou' attitude that bleeds through the postings that I think people tend to take offense to.

I'm by no measure a grammar nazi....heck, I'm lucky to have it all spelled right :)

I agree with this; I see it more often in argument or disagreement.

I don't mind being corrected and I do it myself sometimes, but it pisses me off when someone acts like I just killed their first born child if I use a coma too many times or make a spelling error.

Try and realize it is not about you, control freaks have issues and it is just them working them out on your post. It is best to just make a joke about it or another post with more commas.

Sheldonrs;329112 wrote:

I don't mind being corrected and I do it myself sometimes, but it pisses me off when someone acts like I just killed their first born child if I use a coma too many times or make a spelling error.

You fucking bastard! It's C-O-M-M-A!

rkzenrage;329115 wrote:

Try and realize it is not about you, control freaks have issues and it is just them working them out on your post.

This is a run-on sentence.

You really think so, I mean, I could be... I'm not sure, I'll have to look at it some more, perhaps later.

Happy Monkey;329118 wrote:

You fucking bastard! It's C-O-M-M-A!

Not when I get done with you!!!

Gee, "grammar nazi" and a fuck, within 10 posts, and there's not even a point in contention. See what I mean?

;)

Hey, I'm all for arguing just to hear myself and others talk.

What the HELL am I doing in this thread ?????

Hearing yourself talk. :)

You always got to love the...

"God, your grammer is absoultely terrible"

yeah.....but strictly speaking that last example shows, not bad grammar, but poor spelling.

i dare you to criticize my grammar or spelling. i'll treat you to an ass whooping, the likes you;ve never seeeeeen. and my apostropholon is my trademark, so don;t fuck with that either.

zippyt;329219 wrote:

What the HELL am I doing in this thread ?????

Someone else must be using Zip's log-in - that was all spelllllt corectley!

Dagney;329078 wrote:

IMO, it's not the content of the thread, it's the 'holier than thou' attitude that bleeds through the postings that I think people tend to take offense to.

Absolutely, especially when the intent and meaning are clear.

Dagney;329078 wrote:

I'm by no measure a grammar nazi....heck, I'm lucky to have it all spelled right :)

Grammar Nazi really should be capitalized, and an elipsis should have only three periods and a space before and after it.

Just sayin'.

wolf;329337 wrote:

Grammar Nazi really should be capitalized, and an elipsis should have only three periods and a space before and after it.

Just sayin'.

See, this is why I'm not one ;) I burnt my copy of Little Brown and my Style Guides after I graduated from college.

But I certainly don't mind being corrected, as long as the underlying tone isn't 'I'm better than you are, neener neener neener.' Because, well, that just cheeses my goat more than you would ever believe.

Why is everybody being such a dick lately?

BTW, I like :f215: coz, hey, who doesn't love a dragon on a flag? and :f32: coz it's got a pot leaf on it.

Some of us are experts at performing a semicolonoscopy, and others of us can't see it for shit.

ravenranter;329098 wrote:

will use of lower case really offend people? i'm intelligent enough, but lazy.

If you want to exhibit good waterfowl management, capitalize when required. Otherwise, it looks like both your Shift keys are broken, and left unrepaired. Lame? You make the call.

Some wag just called no-caps writing "e.e. mail."

What the HELL am I doing in this thread ?????

Risking a spanking. With the ball gag and other bondage gear, or without? -- getting out the naughty toys is going to extra trouble.

Ellipsis: dot space dot space dot. Simply trailing off at the end of a sentence, three or more dots...

Anybody who can actually use a coma is frightfully clever. I suppose it's a bit less clever to tell someone else he could use one.

For stylistic and semantic atrocity, there is nothing in the English language to beat The Eye of Argon. Of which the less said the better -- except that it's the basis of a perennial amusement at Fantasy and Science Fiction conventions. They sit around in a reading circle and pass a typescript from hand to hand...

...And try to read it aloud without breaking up. Once you've started to giggle, you must pass it to the next reader.

Originally Posted by Cloud
Why is it that language threads make us crazy?

Nice play on words (i.e. threads = clothing)! While "dressing up" even one's informal writing has its advantages, it's still the person (content) that makes the clothes (writing), not the clothes that make the person.

A fundamental of sociology and principle of effective communication is that it's the responsibility of the person trying to communicate an idea to make themselves understood and not the responsibility of the person receiving the message to somehow understand it. If you can accomplished that, I don't particularly care how you write, more power to you. :2cents:

I think we are talking about two different things. A thread about grammar and language is by definition a discussion about that topic presumably for those who are interested in the art and mechanics of the language.

Correcting another's post outside of such a thread is a different matter completely.

I admit I'm O-C about language, and had my own a-ha moment this weekend when I was thinking about something I had posted and realized I had used the wrong word! (Maybe this belongs in "You know you spend too much time in the Cellar when..." thread.) I try not to jump on others, though, unless they're jerks and I feel like screwing with them, or if the typo or error is just really funny in some way and I can't resist.

I am not even close to perfect either, but I do love the art and science of our language.

I think none of youse here has a sense of humour at all.

I gots me one.

NoBoxes;329534 wrote:

snip~
A fundamental of sociology and principle of effective communication is that it's the responsibility of the person trying to communicate an idea to make themselves understood and not the responsibility of the person receiving the message to somehow understand it. ~snip

Exactly.

Risking a spanking. With the ball gag and other bondage gear, or without? -- getting out the naughty toys is going to extra trouble.

Now, this thread is starting to get very interesting.

I was thinking about this the other day, watching a show on The Ten Commandments. They were talking about the "take not the Lord's name in vain" law, and how it was originally meant because by swearing in god's name, you were calling him down as a witness. The point being, that words are powerful.

Words ARE powerful, which is why maybe we get so passionate about them. I just people would be more passionate about grammar and spelling, if words are so important.

Cloud;329813 wrote:

Words ARE powerful

Agreed. All Harry Potter needs is a pointy stick and the right words, and *bam* interesting things happen.

Apparently, it used to be possible to satirize people to literal DEATH. The Irish did the same thing to rats--rhymed the rats to death.

"I am a rimer of the Irish race,
And have already rimde thee staring mad;
But if thou cease not thy bold jests to spread
I'll never leave till I have rimde thee dead."

rkzenrage;329762 wrote:

I gots me one.

Take two -- they're small.

Or

One for each nipple

Or

Everyone's got one, and also a _________. Whether they both stink or not depends on the ________. These and a buck fifty five get you a Tall cup of coffee at Starbucks.

Apparently, it used to be possible to satirize people to literal DEATH. The Irish did the same thing to rats--rhymed the rats to death.

'possible' or 'believed to be possible' ?

Cloud;329813 wrote:

Words ARE powerful, which is why maybe we get so passionate about them. I just people would be more passionate about grammar and spelling, if words are so important.

Do they come more passionate than I? [Or than me, by another and equally valid grammatical path]

The english language is too complex and I will never get the grammar right.
When somebody points out my mistakes in grammar I just laugh it off because chances are that person does not have perfect grammar either. :)

Your grammar is near perfect ducks.